JP3470822B2 - Image display method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method and apparatus for individually moving and displaying a plurality of display bodies. More particularly, it relates to an image display method for a game device and the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image display device of this type stores a display device capable of displaying a display object (character) having a specific shape and its background screen according to a display signal, and data on the moving state of the character and background data. , A memory for storing other necessary data and processing programs, an operation panel for giving operation signals for operating the character, and various movement state data in the memory based on operation signals from the operation panel and There is known a data processing device which executes a process of moving a character on the screen of the display device according to various data and a processing program and outputs a screen including the processing result as a display signal.

When an image display method is executed by operating such an image display apparatus and an operation signal is input from the operation panel, a predetermined character is moved and displayed on the screen of the display apparatus. Become.

Such an image display method is widely applied to a video game device, for example, an aerial battle game device of an airplane.

This game device has a predetermined viewpoint, for example,
By displaying an image similar to the image seen from the cockpit of the airplane on the display device while changing the image according to the processing by the processing program and the operation of the operation panel, for example, the virtual space of the air battle of the airplane can be displayed to the operator. It was made to be given. The operator can experience a virtual space such as takeoff of an airplane or aerial battle by using an operation panel such as a control stick provided in front of the display device of the game device.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional image display method and apparatus, the character is designed to move freely in a three-dimensional space at a wide angle according to the operation signal. There is a problem that the operation for making one character follow another character is very difficult. For example, an airplane aerial battle game has been put to practical use, but it is very difficult to fix one character behind another because the character moves at a high speed and at a wide angle. However, even if another character can be fixed to the rear, there is a problem that it will not be fixed immediately due to a slight operation error on the operation panel.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display method and an apparatus thereof which allow other characters to be fixed relatively easily behind a character moving in a three-dimensional space at a wide angle. .

Further, the present invention provides an image display method and apparatus capable of displaying a plurality of characters while keeping a predetermined distance without causing the character to move largely even if the operation panel is operated incorrectly. Has an aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve such an object, in the image display method according to the present invention, the first display body moves in the three-dimensional space following the second display body. A method of displaying an image, wherein the position of the first display body
Alternatively, there is a viewpoint behind and the second display body is moved.
The movable range is in front of the first display body and is
From the viewpoint based on the position of the first display body, the second display body
Is in a displayable range .

[0010] The image display method according to the present invention includes wherein the arrangement of the moving object is set based on the reference point for moving the predetermined movement over the course of the three-dimensional space
To do .

[0011] The image display method according to the present invention, the
One display body moves in the three-dimensional space following the second display body.
In the method of displaying a moving image, the distance between the display bodies is
Set the separation to a predetermined range and move each display in the same direction.
It is displayed in a dynamic manner, and each of the above-mentioned display bodies is at a predetermined distance from the reference point.
So that the reference point is
It is characterized by moving on the space .

Further, the image display method according to the present invention is characterized in that movement of each of the display bodies in a direction other than the movement direction is limited to within a predetermined range.

[0013]

The image display device according to the present invention is
A display device for displaying a display body, a memory for storing display data for moving and displaying a plurality of display bodies, an operation panel for inputting an operation signal, and a display signal based on the operation signal and the display data in the memory. And a data processing device which forms the image data and supplies it to a display device, wherein the first display body follows the second display body to obtain an image that moves in a three-dimensional space. Of the first display body
There is a viewpoint at the position or behind, and the second display body
The movable range of is in front of the first display
From the viewpoint based on the position of the first display body, the second table
It is characterized by comprising distance setting means for keeping the display within a displayable range.

[0015]

Further, the image display device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising the same direction moving means for moving the respective display bodies in the same direction.

Further, the data processing device of the image display device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising movement processing means for limiting the movement of each display body other than the movement direction within a predetermined range.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a space in which a plurality of display bodies are moving can be displayed, and at that time, a predetermined display body is set in a predetermined distance range from other display bodies. Will be displayed. Further, a plurality of display bodies are moved in the same direction to be displayed. Therefore, it is sufficient to cause a predetermined display body to follow another display body within a predetermined range or a range in the same direction, and another display body can be easily fixedly displayed after the display body.

Further, according to the present invention, since each of the display bodies is moved in the same direction and the movement in the directions other than the moving direction is limited to the area within a certain range, the predetermined display body is changed to another display body. It becomes easy to follow the.

Further, according to the present invention, since the plurality of display bodies are moved and displayed in the same direction while keeping a predetermined distance, for example, the intersection of the plurality of display bodies is prevented and the first display body is The motion following the second display body is maintained.

Further, according to the present invention, since the plurality of display bodies are displayed with a certain distance from the reference point, and the reference point moves on the moving course, It is possible to easily and quickly perform the moving display of the predetermined display body.

[0022]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In this embodiment, a game device in which a plurality of characters are displayed will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image display device according to the present invention. Image processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Is a display 2 which is a display device, character data for displaying a plurality of characters, motion data of a plurality of characters viewed from a predetermined viewpoint, display data such as a background, operation signals from an operation panel described later, and A memory 3 for storing a processing program for processing the operating state of each character, an operation panel 4 such as a control stick and a missile launch button, and various data while processing various data in accordance with the processing program from the memory 3. And a data processing device 5 for executing the display processing of.

The display 2 includes a data processing device 5
Is electrically connected to the characters Ca, C according to the display signal Vd supplied from the data processing device 5.
b and other background screens BG are three-dimensionally displayed as one screen 7. The operation panel 4 is a data processing device 5
Is electrically connected to the character Ca or C
An operation signal for operating b is generated and given to the data processing device 5. Each operation panel 4 includes an operation lever 41 for instructing the moving direction of the character, a missile launch button 42, a machine gun launch button 43, and a throttle 44.

The memory 3 stores various data for three-dimensionally displaying the character and various movement states of the character, and also stores other necessary data and processing programs. The program is given to the data processing device 5.

The data processing device 5 provides various data for three-dimensionally displaying the character in the memory 3, various movement state data, and other various data based on various operation signals from the operation panel 4. It is a device that executes a process for capturing and moving the character on the display 2 according to the processing program, and outputs a screen including the processing result as a display signal Vd.

Further, the data processing device 5 includes a CPU 50 for executing various processes, and a display control circuit 60 for forming a display signal Vd by referring to image data in the memory 3 based on an image output from the CPU 50. It has and.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the data processing device 5. In FIG. 2, the CP
The U50 operates in accordance with various data and programs in the memory 3 to develop a game and develops a game. Based on the data from the game developing means 51, one character in the three-dimensional space is displayed. A distance setting means 52 for setting the display distance between the display area for displaying and the display area for displaying other characters to a predetermined value, and the same direction for moving a plurality of characters in the same direction based on the data from the game developing means 51. Means of transportation 53
And a movement processing means 54 for moving the plurality of characters on a predetermined course in a direction orthogonal to the display area for displaying the plurality of characters and moving the characters on the display area for displaying the characters based on the operation signal. The image output control means 55 for forming image data from the data from the respective means 51, 52, 53, 54 is realized.

The image output from the image output control means 55 is supplied to the display control circuit 60.
Here, the display control circuit 60 can refer to the image data 32 of the memory 3, and forms the video signal Vd based on the image output from the image output control means 55 and the image data 32. This video signal Vd can be supplied to the display 2.

On the display 2 of the image display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the data processing device 5 executes this game processing program to display an image viewed from the viewpoint of the cockpit of an airplane. become. And this image is formed in relation to other airplanes, and also as limiting the distance to other airplanes and the movable range in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction on the course. When you are behind you will see the rear image of the other plane in front, and when your plane is in front of the other plane, you will see the image as seen from the cockpit without the other plane being displayed Has become. Therefore, the operator of the image display device 1 can easily experience the air battle through the image display device 1.

3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining the principle of the image display method. In these figures, it is assumed that the character Ca is the plane Pa of the user's own plane, and the other character Cb is the other plane Pb.
The airplane Pa of its own is operated by the operation signal from the operation panel 4.
It is possible to move in the directions of the Xa axis and the Ya axis only within the display area Sa formed of the Xa axis and the Ya axis in the virtual three-dimensional space. The nose of each airplane is displayed in the Z-axis direction.

The display area Sa is orthogonal to the Z axis including the reference point Q, and the distance L from the reference point Q.
It is arranged at the position a and its area is regulated to a constant value. Similarly, for the other airplane Pb, the game developing means 51 refers to the motion data 31 in the memory 3 based on the operation signal from the operation panel 4, and refers to the Xb axis and Yb in the three-dimensional space.
The display area Sb formed of axes can be moved in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

Further, the display area Sb is orthogonal to the Z axis including the reference point Q and is arranged at the position of the distance Lb from the reference point Q, and the area is restricted to a constant value. There is.

Therefore, both the own plane Pa and the other plane Pb move in the direction orthogonal to the Z axis within the range surrounded by the right end RH, the left end LH, the upper end UH, and the lower end DH of the course, and are the same as a whole. The screen is displayed on the display 2 as a development screen that moves in the Z-axis direction which is the direction.

The motion data in the memory 3 has data in which the reference point Q sequentially moves on the Z axis at a predetermined speed (determined by the input signal from the throttle 44), and the game is played. The expansion means 51 has a reference point Q.
Data for displaying the characters Pa and Pb are sequentially calculated from the distance from. Therefore, the memory 3
Does not need to store the movement data of all characters as long as the movement data of the reference point Q is stored, the memory capacity can be reduced, and the labor for creating the motion data table can be reduced, and the operation speed can be reduced. Can be improved.

The plane Pa and the plane Pb are displayed in the display area Sa and the plane Pa in the display area Sa at regular time intervals or under constant game conditions.

Then, as the screen actually displayed,
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, as a screen from the viewpoint of the cockpit, the screen of the cockpit of the airplane Pa in the display area Sa, the rear screen of another airplane Pb, and the background screen BG are the same on the display 2. It will be displayed on the display screen.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation when viewed from the plane Pa of the self when an aerial battle of the plane is performed, as an example of the image display method realized by the apparatus.

First, it is assumed that an initial screen is displayed on the display 2 of the image display device 1 (step 60).
1, 602). Here, when an operation start signal is input to the data processing device 5 of the image display device 1 (step 60).
2; YES), the data processing device 5 starts the game processing program.

First, the CPU 5 in the data processing device 5
The game development means 51 of 0 forms a screen in which the aircraft Pa of its own is taken off and raised to reach a predetermined altitude while referring to the motion data 31 and the like according to the game program of the memory 3 (step 604; N).
O). When a predetermined altitude is reached (step 604; Y
ES), in the CPU 50 of the data processing device 5, the distance setting means 52, the same direction moving means 53, and the movement processing means 54 are realized and operated in addition to the game developing means 51. Then, the game developing means 51 refers to the motion data 31 of the memory 3 and so on, and displays another airplane Pb at a predetermined position such that the airplane Pb gradually expands as the airplane Pa approaches (step 605). ).

At this time, the operation signal from the operation panel 4 does not indicate an accurate control operation (step 606; N).
O), when it is determined that the aircraft Pa has reached an uncontrollable state (step 607; YES), a screen in which its own aircraft Pa has crashed is displayed (step 60).
8) After a lapse of a certain time (step 609), it is determined whether the game is over (step 610), and if the game is not over (step 610; NO), the step 60 is performed again.
Return to 5 to start the game.

Although the operation signal from the operation panel 4 does not indicate an accurate operation operation (step 606; N).
O), when the airframe of the airplane Pa has not reached the uncontrollable state (step 607; NO), guidance is displayed to make an appropriate control operation (step 61).
1) and returns to step 605 again.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation signal from the operation panel 4 indicates an accurate control operation (step 606; YES), the distance setting means 52 is based on the data from the game developing means 51. , The display area Sb in the three-dimensional space for moving and displaying the other airplane Pb and the display area Sa in the three-dimensional space for displaying the own airplane Pa are set to a predetermined distance (step 612).

As a result, the own plane Pa moves backward,
The other airplane Pb is displayed in front. Further, the own plane Pa and the other plane Pb are displayed in a state of being separated from each other by a certain distance, and they are neither near nor far.

Further, the same-direction moving means 53, based on the data from the game developing means 51, has its own airplane Pa.
And a process for moving the other airplane Pb in the same direction as a whole (step 613). As a result, the own plane Pa and the other plane Pb proceed in the Z-axis direction at a constant speed.

Further, the movement processing means 54 operates on a predetermined course (Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the display area Sa for displaying its own airplane Pa and the display area Sb for displaying another airplane Pb. Airplane Pa and other airplanes Pb
And the plane Pb in the display area Sa based on the operation signal and the plane Pb in the display area Sb in the XY directions based on the operation signal and the motion data 31 (step 614).

As a result, the own airplane Pa is on one corner of the display area Sa and the other airplane Pb is on the display area Sb.
When they are diagonally opposite to each other, they are displayed with the maximum distance, and the distance from the reference point Q is La.
And the distance Lb, the two are displayed at the minimum distance. As a result, although only moving in the XY directions within the same area Sa, Sb, various modes can be displayed.

Then, when another airplane Pb is not hit by the operation signal of the machine gun or missile from the operation panel 4 (step 616; NO), the process is returned to step 612 again and the game is continued, but when it is hit (step 6).
16; YES), a screen in which another airplane Pb is crashing is displayed (step 617), and after a certain period of time has elapsed (step 618), it is determined whether the game is over (step 61).
9) If the game is not over (step 619; N)
O), the process proceeds to step 605.

As described above, in this embodiment, the own airplane P
a and the other airplane Pb are set by the distance setting means 52 so as to be images displayed at the position of the display area Sa and the position of the display area Sb in the three-dimensional space, and in the same direction. The moving means 53 causes all of them to move along the course.

As another operation of the present embodiment, FIG.
The display screen data is formed assuming that the airplane Pa is placed in the display area Sa of the virtual three-dimensional space as shown in FIG. 2 and the airplane Pb is placed in the display area Sb at the predetermined distances La and Lb from the reference point Q. Therefore, for example, the distance setting means 52, the same direction moving means 53, the movement processing means 54
And the image output control means 55 retrieves the data as viewed from the viewpoint Ta to display the display 2
8, a state in which the own airplane Pa is behind another airplane Pb as shown in FIG. 8 can be displayed on the display 2 as a screen 800 viewed from below.

Further, as still another operation of this embodiment, a display area Sa of a virtual three-dimensional space as shown in FIG. 7 is provided.
Is the reference point Q for the plane Pa and the display area Sb is the plane Pb for
Since the display screen data is formed as being arranged at a predetermined distance La, Lb from, the distance setting means 52, the same direction moving means 53, the movement processing means 54 and the image output control means 55 are used. By taking out the data as viewed from the viewpoint Tb, the screen of the display 2 is displayed on the screen of the display 2 as a screen 900 viewed from above showing the state where the own airplane Pa is behind the other airplane Pb. 2 can be displayed above.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the own plane Pa and the other plane Pb are displayed in the state of being set within the predetermined distance range, the own plane Pa is displayed. It is possible to easily perform a display or the like that follows another airplane Pb, and even if the operation is inexperienced, the following motion can be experienced.

Further, according to this embodiment, it becomes easy to display such that the own plane Pa follows another plane Pb,
Moreover, since it is possible to easily obtain an image viewed from a predetermined viewpoint, it is possible to display a desired image according to a change in the situation.

Further, according to this embodiment, while the own plane Pa and the other plane Pb are moving in the same direction, the plane Pa is moved horizontally in a region other than the moving direction, for example, within a certain range orthogonal to the moving direction. Therefore, it is easier to easily display the other airplane Pb to follow the own airplane Pa, and the movement range is limited to the display area Sa and the display area Sb. It is possible to easily obtain an image and display a desired image according to a change in the situation.

In other words, in the above-described embodiment, even a beginner can enjoy the most interesting part of the air battle, for example, the part of attacking the enemy while chasing after the enemy. It can also be used as a new representation method for aircraft simulation.

Further, according to this embodiment, the display area S
In order to be able to move the character within a and Sb,
While allowing the character to follow, it is possible to give a movement to avoid following.

Further, in this embodiment, after the attack of another airplane is completed, the other airplane may follow the back of its own airplane.

It should be noted that the same direction in the present invention is not limited to meaning that the directions are completely the same, and it is possible to follow the character by motion data in the memory or normal operation. The direction shall be included.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a predetermined display body is displayed in a state in which it is set within a predetermined distance range from another display body, the predetermined display body displays another display body. It is possible to easily perform a display or the like that follows the body, and even if the operation is inexperienced, it is possible to experience the following movement.

Further, according to the present invention, since a plurality of display bodies are moved and displayed in the same direction, it is easy for a predetermined display body to follow another display body, and a predetermined display body can be easily displayed. Since the image viewed from the viewpoint can be easily obtained, a desired image can be displayed according to the change in the situation.

Further, according to the present invention, since a plurality of display bodies can be moved in the same direction and movement in a direction other than the moving direction can be limited within a certain range, a predetermined display body The display following the display body can be further facilitated, and an image viewed from a predetermined viewpoint can be easily obtained, and a desired image can be displayed according to a change in the situation.

Further, according to the present invention, the plurality of display bodies move within an area of a certain range having a certain distance from the reference point, and the reference point moves on the moving course. Since it is configured, it is possible to easily and quickly execute the moving display of the predetermined display body. Therefore, it is possible to provide an effective screen according to changes in the situation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a principle of an image display method realized by the device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image displayed on the display of the device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a display operation from the viewpoint of the pilot of the image display method.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a data example and a viewpoint when the display screen is displayed in a virtual three-dimensional space.

8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at a viewpoint Ta in FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen at a viewpoint Tb in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image display device 2 Display (display device) 3 memory 4 control panel 5 Data processing device 50 CPU 31 Motion data 32 display data 51 Game development means 52 Distance setting means 53 Moving means in the same direction 54 Movement processing means 55 Image output control means 60 Display control circuit Ca Cb character Pa Pb airplane

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-6-23148 (JP, A) JP-A-51-103534 (JP, A) JP-A-61-239282 (JP, A) JP-A-61-113489 (JP , A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-197423 (JP, A) Actually open 64-12587 (JP, U) Actually open 2-146677 (JP, U) Muneto Unuma, 1 person, "for CG animation Human Behavior Simulation ", PIXEL, Graphic Processing Information Center, February 1, 1993, No. 125, p.96-97" AIR COMBAT Yukio King II <System Software>", Microcomputer BAS IC Magazine, Denpa Newspaper Co., December 1, 1989, Volume 8, No. 12, P. 269-271 "EPIC [Imagineer]", I / O, Kogyo Co., Ltd., January 1, 1994, Volume 19, No. 1, p. 33-34 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 15/70 A63F 13/00 G09B 9/34 CSDB (Japan Patent Office)

Claims (13)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of displaying an image in which a first display body follows a second display body and moves in a three-dimensional space,
There is a viewpoint at the position or rear of the first display body, and the movable range of the second display body is the front of the first display body and the position of the first display body. An image display method characterized in that the second display body is within a displayable range from a reference viewpoint. 2. The image display method according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of each of the moving bodies is set based on a reference point that moves on a predetermined moving course of the three-dimensional space. 3. A method for displaying an image in which a first display body follows a second display body and moves in a three-dimensional space,
The distance between the display bodies is set to a predetermined range, each display body is moved and displayed in the same direction, and each display body is set to be a predetermined distance from a reference point, and the reference point is the An image display method characterized by moving on the course. 4. The image display method according to claim 3, wherein movement of each of the display bodies in a direction other than the movement direction is limited to within a predetermined range of area. 5. A display device for displaying a display body, a memory for storing display data for moving and displaying a plurality of display bodies,
An operation panel for inputting an operation signal, and a data processing device which forms a display signal based on the operation signal and the display data in the memory and gives the display device to the display device, wherein the first display body is the second display body. In the image display device that obtains an image that moves in a three-dimensional space by following the above, the data processing device has a viewpoint at or behind the position of the first display body, and the movement of the second display body. The possible range is an image display device including a distance setting unit that is in front of the first display body and keeps the second display body within a displayable range from a viewpoint based on the position of the first display body. . 6. The data processing device includes a same-direction moving unit that moves each of the display bodies in the same direction.
The image display device described. 7. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the data processing device includes a movement processing unit that limits movement of each display body other than the movement direction within a predetermined range. 8. A method of displaying a game image in which a first display body follows a second display body and moves in a three-dimensional space, wherein each display body moves in a predetermined manner as the game progresses. While moving in the same direction on the course, at least one of each display body is displayed movably on the moving surface orthogonal to the moving direction on the course, the movable range of the second display body, The first display body and the second display are in front of the first display body and within a range in which the second display body can be displayed from the viewpoint based on the position of the first display body. An image display method, characterized in that it is set so as to be separated from the body. Each 9. Before Symbol the display body, and wherein the being displayed so as to move the respective moving surface of the display body based on steering <br/> operation signal from the operation unit according Item 9. The image display method according to Item 8. 10. Display means for displaying an image of a plurality of characters arranged in a three-dimensional space viewed from a predetermined viewpoint,
In a shooting game device having an operation panel for inputting an operation signal of a player, a first character operated by the operation signal, and a second character which is an attack target of the first character, the first character The character follows the second character and moves in the same direction on a predetermined moving course in the three-dimensional space, and at least one of the characters has a surface orthogonal to the moving direction on the course. It is movable, and the movable range of the second character is in front of the first character and the position of the first character .
The second character can be displayed from the viewpoint based on
A range is in the shooter device, characterized in that said first character and said second character is set away a certain distance. 11. The shooting game apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the characters is displayed so as to move on a moving surface of the character according to the operation signal. 12. The movable range of the first character and the movable range of the second character are exchanged at regular time intervals or according to constant game conditions. The shooting game device according to claim 11. 13. The at least one of the first character and the second character imitates an airplane, and the predetermined viewpoint is a viewpoint of an operation unit of the first character. Claims 10 to 12
The shooting game device according to any one of 1.